Future Coug prepping at high speed for WSU

BARRY BOLTON

01/20/2009

FUTURE COUGAR NOLAN WASHINGTON says he can't wait to get to WSU -- and his current preparations bear that out. The No. 1 rated CB in the state recently hung out with another soon to be Cougar, Gino Simone. "I was just chilling with my future roommate Gino up on the Plateau, hanging out with him and some of my friends from Skyline, Jake Heaps and Kasen (Williams). We were all just kicking it."

Nolan Washington used to play hoops at Kennedy after football season but even though the calendar has turned to January, it's remained all about football for him. Indeed, Washington has been working out religiously with two well known Kennedy High grads, Joey Thomas and Paul Arnold.

"We've been doing some crazy workouts. (Thomas) is getting me right for college... I'm putting on weight. I'm not waiting until the summer, I'm starting here in January so I can be that much farther along when I get to Wazzu," said Washington.

Thomas is a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins, first coming to the NFL as a third round draft pick out of Montana State. Paul Arnold was a Parade All-American running back before his UW career and is now an assistant coach for Bob Bourgette at Kennedy.

WASHINGTON, A 3-STAR prospect rated the top '09 corner in the Evergreen State, said he's spending hours after school each day with Thomas and Arnold, working on special field drills and hefting the iron in the weight room. He's also altered his diet to help turn more protein into fast-twitch muscle.

Washington said his goal between now and fall camp at Washington State is to add around 10 pounds of muscle, in the right spots, to his 5-11, 175-pound frame while at the same time increasing both quickness and speed. Washington was clocked at 4.46 in the 40 this past spring.

"I'm really trying to enjoy my last year of high school but I'm working out hard right now, harder than I ever have before. Some (people) I guess think I'm not all that fast so I've been putting in some extra speed drills just for them. That's one thing I'm really looking forward to, highlighting for everyone once I get to college just how fast I am as a DB. And I think I'm faster right now than a 4.46," said Washington.

WASHINGTON AND 4-STAR receiver Gino Simone, the state's top rated overall prospect out of Skyline High who is also Wazzu-bound, have become fast friends since they played last summer on a select squad, along with future Coug Casey Locker, that won a national 7-on-7 football tournament. And since they went crimson, Washington and Simone both said their bond has only grown stronger.

Washington spent a recent weekend with the Simone family and also spent some time "kicking it" with Skyline players Jake Heaps (class of '10) and Kasen Williams (class of '11). Washington said the he and Simone plan to room together when they get out on the Palouse this summer.

"That's my brother from another mother," says Washington of Simone.

"Nolan is a natural leader and he hates to lose," said Simone. "I've had the privilege of playing with him in 7-on-7's and gone up against him. I've gone up a lot of corners and there really aren't many that are as good as Nolan.

"And we will be rooming together, and I'll be over there (for a weekend with the Washington family) sometime soon. Nolan is a real stand up guy and I'm already looking forward to the memories we're going to have."

WASHINGTON SAID a couple of Pac-10 schools are continuing to put out feelers with time running short before National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Feb. 4.

"Once their defensive coordinator (UW) got hired, the day after (Nick Holt's) press conference he was actually at my school and talking to "Coach B". But I'm done with recruiting. I know colleges are still calling my coach, like Oregon called, and then Washington. But I haven't been talking to any coaches besides the Wazzu coaches," said Washington.